We started the month well, defending like demons and hitting Bath on the break before popping down to the Stoop to destroy Harlequins in a devastating display of running rugby. However in the last two weeks we’ve gone of the rails slightly.
First Gloucester came to the Gardens and did a job on us while on Saturday Tigers simply blew us away in a depressing second half leaving us in mid table with two wins and two losses in the Zurich Premiership so far. My hope that the Glos game was just a blip on the road the glory has quickly evaporated when in all truth for the last 40 minutes at Welford Road we were not at the races.
Although we are told not to panic and that it’s a long way to go till season end there has to be some concern that our ‘fortress’ home record has already gone and the very manner of the loss on Saturday.
Our much vaunted new look pack, whilst winning lineout ball this week, came up well short and handling errors in both forwards and backs coughed up what possession we could garner straight back to the opposition. All in all a very disappointing day and nothing I saw on Saturday gives me much hope for our season. C’mon lads please prove me wrong.
INSECT REPELLENT FOR YOUR GARDENS
Two losses in a row makes Saturdays game against English and European champions Wasps a huge one for the Saints. People are already calling it a season defining game and by 5:00 on Saturday with virtually a quarter of the ZP gone talk of marathons not sprints might start to fall on deaf ears. We simply have to get something out of this game.
Now Wasps have not exactly started the season in style either, winning and losing two (albeit those two wins are on the trot) so are not yet into their powerhouse mode that saw them leave every other club in their wake last year. If there’s a good time to play them, on their current form anyway, its now.
History is also on our side in this contest. Saints have run out winners in the last three clashes at the Garden a couple of them being very bruising encounters and I do not expect any less on Saturday. Wasps could welcome back both Trevor Leota and Lawrence Dallaglio but the most eagerly awaited player will of course be the return of ex-Saint Matt Dawson.
Whilst its not exactly the return of a prodigal son I am sure the last thing the lads will be wanting to do is to lay on a fatted calf for his return. Whatever the reasons for Matt’s departure, and I’ve heard enough conspiracy theories to fill a whole new series of the X-Files, it’s going to be interesting to see how he deals with not only the emotions of the day but, hopefully more, how he deals with the man that took his shirt, Sharky Robinson.
While all the talk will be of the perceived clash between Corne Krige and Daws I think the number nine head to head will prove to the real battle royal. There’s no doubting that although it would have been a luxury having both Matt and Sharky in our squad, Sharky was the first choice scrumhalf come season end. He was the guy in the driving seat and whilst it would have been good to see them both fight it out for the Gold, Black n Green jersey Saturday could be a winner takes all competition between the guys. It could also hold the key to the game. I’m backing the Kiwi.
ALL QUIET ON THE CORNE FRONT
As I mentioned earlier all eyes on Saturday will be on the perceived Dawson v Krige clash with no doubt some aspects of the media stirring the pot beforehand raking over old coals and autobiographies (which in the long run might burn just as good) trying to build it up into something that hopefully will not materalise.
I have to say I’ve been very impressed with Corne who has certainly done his talking on the pitch rather than off it since he joined the Saints. Week in week out, even in defeat you cannot fault the guys effort and application and he has all but won over just about everyone not only at the Gardens but elsewhere as well.
While I think the furore from Saints ‘supporters’ before his arrival was limited to only a handful of people making a lot of noise (does anyone actually know of a single person that sent their season ticket back?) I too, like many, thought he would be getting a lot of stick from opposition supporters. I have to say I’ve been surprised by the reception he’s got so far especially considering we have already played both Gloucester and Leicester.
On Saturday as the teams were read out I heard just a single half hearted boo for Corne. Of course taking the field for Tigers were Johnson, Healey and Back, all of whom have served lengthy bans for misdemeanours in the past so the Leicester crowd are used to their own pantomime villains but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised there was no more than a mere hint of displeasure. Now there will always be an odd, usually alcohol fuelled, idiot about, we even had one our own shouting at a kick on Saturday but I think our new skipper has rode out the worst he can expect and if he keeps his head down (sorry no pun intended) and carries on with the job in hand he will keep on winning people over week in week out.
DON’T LOSE OUT ON TOULOSE
I am sure the usual thousand or so intrepid souls will be making the annual pilgrimage to France in mid December for Saints Heineken Cup game against Toulouse. A word of warning though, don’t leave it late getting rooms booked. Some of the popular hotels have already sold out and whilst there’s still an abundance to choose from central hotels, yes those near the Frog and Rosbif and the Gandhi curry house, are already charging premium rates in some cases. The club is running an organised trip to the game but if like the majority you are a do it yourselfer book soon to avoid disappointment or a very large dent in your pre-Xmas wallet.
First Gloucester came to the Gardens and did a job on us while on Saturday Tigers simply blew us away in a depressing second half leaving us in mid table with two wins and two losses in the Zurich Premiership so far. My hope that the Glos game was just a blip on the road the glory has quickly evaporated when in all truth for the last 40 minutes at Welford Road we were not at the races.
Although we are told not to panic and that it’s a long way to go till season end there has to be some concern that our ‘fortress’ home record has already gone and the very manner of the loss on Saturday.
Our much vaunted new look pack, whilst winning lineout ball this week, came up well short and handling errors in both forwards and backs coughed up what possession we could garner straight back to the opposition. All in all a very disappointing day and nothing I saw on Saturday gives me much hope for our season. C’mon lads please prove me wrong.
INSECT REPELLENT FOR YOUR GARDENS
Two losses in a row makes Saturdays game against English and European champions Wasps a huge one for the Saints. People are already calling it a season defining game and by 5:00 on Saturday with virtually a quarter of the ZP gone talk of marathons not sprints might start to fall on deaf ears. We simply have to get something out of this game.
Now Wasps have not exactly started the season in style either, winning and losing two (albeit those two wins are on the trot) so are not yet into their powerhouse mode that saw them leave every other club in their wake last year. If there’s a good time to play them, on their current form anyway, its now.
History is also on our side in this contest. Saints have run out winners in the last three clashes at the Garden a couple of them being very bruising encounters and I do not expect any less on Saturday. Wasps could welcome back both Trevor Leota and Lawrence Dallaglio but the most eagerly awaited player will of course be the return of ex-Saint Matt Dawson.
Whilst its not exactly the return of a prodigal son I am sure the last thing the lads will be wanting to do is to lay on a fatted calf for his return. Whatever the reasons for Matt’s departure, and I’ve heard enough conspiracy theories to fill a whole new series of the X-Files, it’s going to be interesting to see how he deals with not only the emotions of the day but, hopefully more, how he deals with the man that took his shirt, Sharky Robinson.
While all the talk will be of the perceived clash between Corne Krige and Daws I think the number nine head to head will prove to the real battle royal. There’s no doubting that although it would have been a luxury having both Matt and Sharky in our squad, Sharky was the first choice scrumhalf come season end. He was the guy in the driving seat and whilst it would have been good to see them both fight it out for the Gold, Black n Green jersey Saturday could be a winner takes all competition between the guys. It could also hold the key to the game. I’m backing the Kiwi.
ALL QUIET ON THE CORNE FRONT
As I mentioned earlier all eyes on Saturday will be on the perceived Dawson v Krige clash with no doubt some aspects of the media stirring the pot beforehand raking over old coals and autobiographies (which in the long run might burn just as good) trying to build it up into something that hopefully will not materalise.
I have to say I’ve been very impressed with Corne who has certainly done his talking on the pitch rather than off it since he joined the Saints. Week in week out, even in defeat you cannot fault the guys effort and application and he has all but won over just about everyone not only at the Gardens but elsewhere as well.
While I think the furore from Saints ‘supporters’ before his arrival was limited to only a handful of people making a lot of noise (does anyone actually know of a single person that sent their season ticket back?) I too, like many, thought he would be getting a lot of stick from opposition supporters. I have to say I’ve been surprised by the reception he’s got so far especially considering we have already played both Gloucester and Leicester.
On Saturday as the teams were read out I heard just a single half hearted boo for Corne. Of course taking the field for Tigers were Johnson, Healey and Back, all of whom have served lengthy bans for misdemeanours in the past so the Leicester crowd are used to their own pantomime villains but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised there was no more than a mere hint of displeasure. Now there will always be an odd, usually alcohol fuelled, idiot about, we even had one our own shouting at a kick on Saturday but I think our new skipper has rode out the worst he can expect and if he keeps his head down (sorry no pun intended) and carries on with the job in hand he will keep on winning people over week in week out.
DON’T LOSE OUT ON TOULOSE
I am sure the usual thousand or so intrepid souls will be making the annual pilgrimage to France in mid December for Saints Heineken Cup game against Toulouse. A word of warning though, don’t leave it late getting rooms booked. Some of the popular hotels have already sold out and whilst there’s still an abundance to choose from central hotels, yes those near the Frog and Rosbif and the Gandhi curry house, are already charging premium rates in some cases. The club is running an organised trip to the game but if like the majority you are a do it yourselfer book soon to avoid disappointment or a very large dent in your pre-Xmas wallet.
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